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Talgua's caves are located in the Agalta mountain range in the municipality of Catacamas, Olancho. Several archaeological sites can be found in the Talgua River basin, witnessing the various human settlements in that area for nearly three thousand years.



But among all the discoveries that have surprised this region is the Talgua cave ossuary. The importance of this burial is that, in Honduras, few pre-Hispanic burial caves were discovered and these are the first caves in the country to be scientifically researched.



The discovery was made in April 1994 by Jorge Yanez and Desiderio Reyes. Climbing up a wall nearly ten meters high, in the light of their lanterns, they could see hundreds of human bones and various remains of vases.





Talgua Caves are located about 10 km from Catacamas. The access road is unpaved and, depending on the time of year, may be in excellent condition for something deteriorated. Anyway, the thing is that a single-wheel drive vehicle is enough to get you to this interesting site.



Some of the bones have been preserved by a shimmering layer of calcium deposited for nearly a millennium by the water that still penetrates the limestone walls of the cave. This is the luminous phenomenon that encloses Talgua's caves: calcite crystals shine in the light, giving rise to the name "Luminous Skulls". Part of the history can be found at the museum.

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